Hawaii's involvement in World War I - Timeline

Hawaii charity relief work for Europeans

large business had their own telegraph equipment for privacy in financial / business discussions

February 1914

02/01

Hawaii residents leaving to fight for homeland

1914-02-01

residents with English, French, and German connections return home to help their countries

March 1914

03/01

Hawaii residents contribute to Red Cross solicitations

1914-03-01

Red Cross was not yet international and all combatant countries raised funds in Hawaii

November 1914

11/07

German ships interned

1914-11-07

Japanese ships were patroling the Pacific to attack German ships; Hawaii as neutral US port provided sanctuary; city attempts to make them feel comfortable

March 1915

03/25

USS F-4 experimental sub lost of O'ahu

1915-03-25

21 seamen lost; Hawai’i community steps up with funds to aid families of those lost

August 1915

08/30

USS F-4 Raised

1915-08-30

raised sent to dry dock at Inter-island Steam Navigation

September 1915

09/14

USS F-4

1915-09-14

what remains sunk again off Pearl Harbor

November 1915

11/11

NG moves to Punchbow

1915-11-11

Eerie date given when war will end but date will likely make it hard to make this a commemoration of this event - but could be mentioned at other events as footnote

January 1916

01/01

Naval Militia formed in Hawaii

1916-01-01

April 1916

04/23

Naval Militia

1916-04-23

official formation

June 1916

06/03

Militia of Hawaii

1916-06-03

Organized Militia of Hawaii legally changes to national guard status

September 1916

09/14

Hawaii Naval Militia

1916-09-14

Hawaii Naval Militia underway on the First Class Cruiser USS St. Louis

January 1917

01/31

Interned German ships sabotaged by crews

1917-01-31

April 1917

04/01

Sinking of the SS Aztec

1917-04-01

The civilian merchant ship Aztec was sunk by German U-boat off the northwest coast of France. There were five men from Hawaii among the crewmen who died.

04/05

Interned German ships seized

1917-04-05

The vessels are converted for US combat

04/06

Public telegraph messages subject to censorship

1917-04-06

04/10

Private telegraph equipment seized by Federal government

1917-04-10

large business had their own telegraph equipment for privacy in financial / business discussions

04/21

Honolulu Harbor goes dark

1917-04-21

Harbor lights turned off at night in fear of German subs using the lights to attack

04/22

Public Memorial to the SS Aztec

1917-04-22

A public memorial was held at Iolani Palace to honor those lost aboard the SS Aztec. Thousands attended including the governor, mayor, military officials, Territorial legislators, and the Hawaiian Band. Elements of the service were held in both English and Hawaiian.

May 1917

05/13

Japanese ship visits Honolulu

1917-05-13

The [vessel name here] is returning the body of US Ambassade who died of natural causes in Japan; American & Japanese troops pose together outside Honolulu recruiting station

05/26

Fijian soldiers enroute to Europe stop in Hawaii

1917-05-26

As members of the British empire Fijian soldiers were part of the support services in Europe

05/26

Anthrax on island cattle ranches attributed to German sabatoge

1917-05-26

Although without evidence, the community becomes convinced "Hun spies" have spread the disease to sabatoge the islands food supply

June 1917

06/06

Federal Miliary law forbids alcohol to US military in Hawaii

1917-06-06

06/18

Draft Boards begin work in Hawii

1917-06-18

July 1917

07/31

Hawaii Draft Registration Day

1917-07-31

big ad campaign, public events

September 1917

09/14

American Red Cross chapter receives flag from Queen Liliuokalani

1917-09-14

Hawaii War Relief Committee had operated since 1914, now it is part of the Red Cross and is supported by all communities within the islands